“Here’s what I can tell him about math: raising taxes on anyone, no matter their income level, will do nothing to stimulate our economy, create jobs or balance our federal budget.” —Herman Cain, former C.E.O. of Godfather’s Pizza

“The President’s class-baiting rhetoric categorizes Americans into opposing groups and pits them against one another, purely for his own political gain.” —Jesse Benton, campaign chairman for Ron Paul, a Republican congressman for Texas

“It is not class warfare to fight for the middle class. It is not class warfare to say that we need funding for roads and bridges, for teachers, and that the wealthiest among us should pay their fair share to do it.” —Chuck Schumer, a Democratic congressman for New York

“The government has a spending problem, and I don’t believe it makes any sense to tax the people we expect to invest in our economy.” —John Boehner, Speaker of the House

“I wonder if John Boehner knows what it sounds like when he continues to say the position of the Republican Party in America is that you can’t impose one more penny in taxes on the wealthiest people.” —Dick Durbin, a Democratic congressman for Illinois

“If Warren Buffett believes he doesn’t pay enough taxes, then he should write a check today to the Treasury.” —Michele Bachmann, a Republican congresswoman for Minnesota

“We were in a position of legislative compromise by necessity. That phase is behind us.” —Dan Pfeiffer, White House Director of Communications